Minister tasks Nigeria medical lab Council on quality, effective tests
NAN HG-2
Minister
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Nov. 6, 2017 (NAN) Dr osagie Ehanire the Minister of State for Health on Monday tasked the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria on providing quality and effective lab tests.
He gave this advice at the inauguration of the nine members of the External Quality Assurance Advisory Committee ( EQA) of the council in Abuja.
According to him, the setting up of the committee will be a push in realising the mandate of conducting and maintaining an improved accuracy in laboratory testing in the society.
He further said that the initiative would help change and achieve quality health testing in the society.
He, therefore, pledged the support of the ministry in the pursuit of the cause.
The Acting Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Sir Tosan Erhabor, in his remarks, said that the committee was set up to provide guidance and effective management of the program in the country.
He noted that the committee would also provide institutional support and advisory services to the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.
“It will also analyse and advice government on the performance of medical laboratories as well as galvanize support for the expansion and sustainability of the External Quality Assurance Advisory committee.
He added that setting up the committee was also geared towards maintaining quality medical laboratory services and also keying into global best practices.
Erhabor also said that the initiative would help curb the excesses of professionals that resort to unethical practices and as well make the profession unattractive to quacks.
He further stated that the committee was determined to take the medical laboratory services to new heights in line with the change mantra of the president Muhammad Bulhari administration.
He noted that the committee was committed to helping the country change the narrative that 95 per cent or more of accredited laboratories in Africa are in South Africa while others share the remaining space.
” For citizenry and posterity, we must strive to change the perception of our medical laboratories and diagnostic results emanating from them.
“With the calibre and support of the members of the committee, we are confident of a brighter future for medical laboratory services and those that use them,” he said.
According to him, the need for the advisory committee was driven by the desire of the council to ensure that its processes were transparent, credible and totally free of any form of bias.
He urged stakeholders to join hands with the council to bequeath a culture of accurate and reliable laboratory test results to the citizenry. (NAN)
CSO/CHOM/YAZ
=========
Edited By Chioma Ugboma